ANOTHER SUCCESS: ISRO launched PSLV C40 with CARTOSAT-2 SERIES satellite with 30 other co-passenger satellites

India’s Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle, in its forty second flight (PSLV-C40), will launch the 710 kg Cartosat-2 Series Satellite for earth observation and 30 co-passenger satellites together weighing about 613 kg at lift-off.

The co-passenger satellites comprise one microsatellite and one nanosatellite from India as well as 3 microsatellites and 25 nanosatellites from six countries, viz., Canada, Finland, France, Republic of Korea, UK and USA.

The total weight of all the 31 satellites carried onboard PSLV-C40 is about 1323 kg. 30 of 31 satellites carried by PSLV-C40 will be first launched into a 505 km polar Sun Synchronous Orbit (SSO) while Microsat built by ISRO will be placed in a 359 km polar SSO after bringing down the orbital height by twice restarting the PSLV-C40 fourth stage. PSLV-C40 will be launched from the First Launch Pad (FLP) of Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) SHAR, Sriharikota.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HNEcE7-odCo&t=1995s]

Primary satellite

The Cartosat-2 Series Satellite is the primary satellite being carried by PSLV-C40. This remote sensing satellite is similar to the earlier six satellites of the Cartosat-2 series and is intended to augment data services to the users. After its injection into a 505 km polar Sun Synchronous Orbit by PSLV-C40, the satellite will be brought to operational configuration, following which it will begin providing regular remote sensing services using its Panchromatic and Multispectral cameras. The imagery sent by the satellite will be useful for cartographic applications, urban and rural applications, coastal land use and regulation, utility management like road network monitoring, water distribution, creation of land use maps, change detection to bring out geographical and manmade features and various other Land Information System (LIS) as well as Geographical Information System (GIS) applications.

The 28 International customer satellites are being launched as part of the commercial arrangements between Antrix Corporation Limited (Antrix), a Government of India company under Department of Space (DOS), the commercial arm of ISRO and the International customers.

Microsatellite

PSLV-C40 carries a Microsat built by ISRO as a co-passenger payload. Microsat is a small satellite in the 100 kg class that derives its heritage from IMS-1 bus. This is a technology demonstrator and the forerunner for future satellites of this series. The satellite bus is modular in design and can be fabricated and tested independently of payload.

Indian Nano Satellite-1C (INS 1C)

Indian Nano Satellite-1C is another Indian co-passenger payload of PSLV-C40. It is the third satellite in the Indian Nanosatellite series. The first two satellites of this series were carried as co-passenger payloads by PSLV-C37 in February 2017. INS-1C will be carrying Miniature Multispectral Technology Demonstration (MMX-TD) Payload from Space Applications Centre (SAC). Data sent by this camera can be utilised for topographical mapping, vegetation monitoring, aerosol scattering studies and cloud studies. Indian Nano Satellite (INS) is a versatile and modular Nano satellite bus system envisioned for future science and experimental payloads. With a capability to carry up to 3 kg of payload and a total satellite mass of 11 kg, it offers immense opportunities for future use. The INS system is developed as a co-passenger satellite to accompany bigger satellites on PSLV launch vehicle. Its primary objectives include providing a standard satellite bus for launch on demand services and providing opportunity to carry innovative payloads.

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